In one of the most covert and daring air operations in recent times, a group of American B-2 Spirit stealth bombers launched a humongous attack on Iran’s nuclear complexes. The operation, later named Operation Midnight Hammer, has been referred to by top commanders as the largest and most complex B-2 combat operation ever undertaken. Seven B-2s, flying halfway around the world under radio silence, dropped 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs on two of Iran’s best-protected underground enrichment facilities.
This was not an impulsive strike. It was the culmination of planning, rehearsal, and intelligence-gathering that spanned years. Every aspect—flight route, refueling schedule, and deception operations—was calculated to hide the true target until the last minute. Some aircraft flew diversionary routes on purpose to mislead radar and enemy tracking systems, U.S. officials said, while others advanced undetected to real targets. Even off-the-cuff remarks from then-President Trump, which intimated that action against Iran’s nuclear program was in the offing, were all part of a synchronized smokescreen aimed to confuse viewers.
The mission itself pushed aircraft and crews to their limits. The B-2s spent nearly 18 hours in the air, relying on constant in-flight refueling to make the round trip. KC-135 Stratotankers were the lifeline, extending the bombers’ reach far beyond what they are capable of normally. Tanker pilot Major Jeffrey Boesche later characterized these extended-distance refueling flights as the ultimate test of coordination and endurance, where timing accuracy can mean mission success or failure.
The B-2 Spirit has been the crown jewel of U.S. air power for decades. Its 172-foot wings and radar-evasive, sleek design are intended to slip past the most sophisticated air defenses. It’s propelled by four General Electric F118-GE-100 engines providing over 17,000 pounds of thrust each, allowing it to traverse oceans to strike with precision.
Designed to deliver both conventional and nuclear payloads, the B-2 is a combination of stealth, range, and accuracy that no plane in service can equal. In this mission, those capabilities were tested as never before.
As the bombers entered Iranian airspace, they were led by stealth fighters and reconnaissance planes, all of them traveling in total radio silence. A U.S. Navy submarine had, days earlier, launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles that struck strategic targets like the Isfahan uranium enrichment plant to soften up defenses in preparation for the arrival of the bombers.
Key to the operation was the initial deployment of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a 30,000-pound weapon capable of piercing through hardened concrete deep within the earth before detonating. Fourteen were used—the first time the weapon had been deployed to combat. Air Force General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, later described it as a “historic step” for America in its ability to disable hardened underground facilities.
The Fordo enrichment plant was hardest hit, with Natanz also sustaining heavy damage. The bombing run took approximately 30 minutes, and then a second wave of cruise missile attacks was launched to finalize the attack. Iranian leaders immediately denied the extent of the damage and promised to retaliate, but U.S. defense sources characterized the result as a surgical and crushing victory. International monitors reported no immediate radioactive spill, but the blow to Iran’s nuclear ambitions was severe.
Collectively, the mission employed 75 precision-guided munitions and more than 120 aircraft—bombers, tankers, and escort fighters. One of the crews on the B-2s included women, a powerful reflection of the evolving face of U.S. airpower and the professionalization of the new force.
Operation Midnight Hammer was not just an attack—it was a statement. It turned out to be the biggest B-2 combat deployment in history, second only to operations following 9/11. The operation validated years of joint training and multinational exercises such as Bamboo Eagle and Red Flag-Alaska, where crews hone their ability to fight and survive through heavily contested airspace.
Finally, the mission validated what the B-2 Spirit had been created to accomplish: strike anywhere in the world, at any time, without warning. It demonstrated the enduring value of stealth, surprise, and precision in an era defined by speed and uncertainty. As the nature of warfare continues to evolve, Operation Midnight Hammer stands as a reminder that true air superiority isn’t just about power—it’s about preparation, patience, and the ability to strike before the enemy even knows you’re there.